I have been looking recently at the story of Dorothy Day (1897-1980), the well-known American convert journalist and social activist who devoted her life to the care and defence of the poor. A lesser-known aspect of her life was her devotion to both Teresa and Therese. In a semi-autobiographical writing published in the late Thirties (From Union Square to Rome), she has a chapter in which she gives answers to some objections to the claims of the Catholic Church. In her defence of the Church she appeals several times to sayings of Teresa. She had actually learned about Teresa originally from a book by a non-Catholic writer on the subject of religious experience (William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience). In hospital in 1926 at the time of the birth of her baby (whom she named Tamar Teresa), she was introduced to Therese by another inmate. (Interestingly, Dorothy records that this lady was being preached at by the hospital staff about the merits of birth control to limit her growing family.) From this time on, Therese was a presence in Dorothy’s life and Dorothy spent a lot of time composing a book about her; it eventually came out in 1960. Dorothy was just one of a legion of souls for whom the wonderful Therese has been a companion and a guide.
Intercessions:
Elara, Siena, infants with severe medical problems
Marie – cancer
Rosemarie – multiple afflictions
Bernard – cancer, and wife Angela
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